Diabetes Direction

There has been some recent talk about the necessity of those with non-insulin treating diabetics to self-monitor their blood glucose level through testing with a glucometer (blood testing kit). There is so much conflicting information out there, so how can we know who to trust? That’s easy! Trust yourself!

Using a little bit of uncommon sense, you already know that if you don’t test your blood, then you can’t learn how different foods affect you. When you first become Diabetic, it is important to test often. If you suspect that you might have Diabetic symptoms, find a friend or family member with a glucometer and ask if they will help you test your blood. Most Diabetics that are active in the treatment of their Diabetes and having a healthy lifestyle are happy to share and help others that may have this disease. If you don’t know anyone that has a glucometer you can find one on your own or ask your doctor to check you for Diabetes. I have provided a store here on the website that links to Amazon where you can purchase many items for Diabetes. These items are not being sold by me, but through Amazon.

What are some common symptoms? Extreme thirst, frequent urination, unusual hunger, weight loss that seems for no reason (not on a diet or ill), being tired all the time, blurred vision, slow healing wounds, nerve pain in the feet, infections in the gums, skin and bladder and breath or urine that smells sweet. Also, for women, a yeast infection from hell that just wont go away. I had many of these symptoms, but not all. I lost 40 pounds in about a month, and I suddenly started drinking a few GALLONS of water every day. I just couldn’t get rid of the thirst! I still have some trouble with my eyesight being blurry sometimes, but that may also just be natural from getting older. These symptoms are caused by the body keeping the sugar in the blood stream rather than using it.

Back to the testing! Hopefully you have some better understanding of WHY you need to test, but how often should you? If you are just starting out, I recommend up to 8 times per day. Once you have learned how many of the foods you like affect you, you can cut this back by half. The best times to check are when you wake up, 2 hours after breakfast, as you start your lunch and again 2 hours after, the same again for dinner, and before you go to bed. If you have a snack in there as well, test it also.

Sometimes we find that we can tolerate a specific food at one time of day but not another. For instance, if I eat a serving of oatmeal for breakfast, it will really increase my blood glucose, but if I eat the oatmeal later in the day the affect is not nearly as much.

Each of us are different though, so you need to find what works for YOU. See other parts of my website for more information on foods, testing your blood, and other important factors for living with Type 2 Diabetes.

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